प्रलेपनानां सर्वेषां रक्तचंदनमुत्तमम्
Among all ointments, red sandalwood is the best.
किं तस्य न भवेल्लोको यो ह्यनेन प्रलेपयेत्
What world would not be his, who applies this ointment?
उपलिप्य रवेर्गेहं कुर्याद्वै मंडलं पुनः
Having anointed the house of the Sun, one should again make a circle.
त्रिभिः सप्तभिरच्छिन्ना बालो वान्योपि यो नरः अनेन विधिना कुर्याद्यावतीः सप्त सप्तमी
Whoever, whether a child or another man, performs this rite with three or seven uninterrupted (applications), as many as seven sevens—
एता वै सप्त सप्तम्यो यथा प्रोक्ता विवस्वता
These are the seven sevens as declared by Vivasvat.
अर्कसंपुटकैर्वित्तं मरिचैः प्रियसंगमम् धनं धान्यं सुवर्णं च ततो दद्याद्विवस्वते
With sun-shaped vessels, with maricas, and beloved company, one should then give wealth, grain, and gold to Vivasvat.
जयं प्राप्नोति विपुलं कृत्वा सर्वत्र खेचर
Having done so, one attains great victory everywhere, O sky-mover.
नरो वा यदि वा नारी यथोक्तं सप्तमीव्रतम्
Whether man or woman, whoever observes the Saptami vow as prescribed—
न तेषां त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचिदस्तीति दुर्लभम्
For them, nothing is unattainable in the three worlds.
सर्वयज्ञफलं तेषां यथा वेदोदितं भवेत्
They obtain the fruit of all sacrifices as declared in the Vedas.
नांधो न कुष्ठी न क्लीबो न व्यंगो न च निर्धनः
None among them is blind, afflicted with leprosy, impotent, deformed, or destitute.
पुत्रार्थी श्रुतिसंपन्नाल्लँभेत्पुत्राश्चिरायुषः भोगार्थी लभते भोगान्व्रतेनानेन सुव्रत
One desiring sons, endowed with learning, obtains long-lived sons; one desiring enjoyment gains pleasures by this vow, O virtuous one.
क्रोधात्प्रमादाल्लोभाच्च व्रतभंगो यदा भवेत्
If the vow is broken due to anger, negligence, or greed,
सप्तैव यावत्सप्तम्यः संप्राप्ता गुरुणा खग भोजयित्वा द्विजाञ्छक्त्या प्राप्नुयात्स्वर्गमक्षयम्
When the seventh Saptami arrives, O bird, having fed the twice-born according to one's ability, one attains the imperishable heaven.
सप्तम्यां विप्रमुख्येभ्यो योऽन्नं दद्यात्खगेश्वर
On Saptami, O lord of birds, whoever gives food to eminent Brahmins,
इति ते कीर्तितं वीर सप्तमीव्रतमुत्तमम्
Thus, O hero, the excellent Saptami vow has been proclaimed to you.
येन व्रतप्रभावेण कामिकं फलमश्नुते
By the power of this vow, one attains the desired fruit.
गोमूत्रगोमयाहारः षड्वृताहार एव च ।। अथ वा यावकाहारः शीर्णपर्णाशनोपि वा
One may subsist on cow urine, cow dung, or sixfold restricted food; or else barley food, or even dried leaf fare.
क्षीराशी चैकभक्तं(चैव भक्तं?) वा सिक्थाहारोथ वा पुनः
Or one may eat milk, a single meal, or food made with flour, or again,
पुष्पोपहारैर्विविधैः पद्मसौगंधिकोत्पलैः
With various offerings of flowers—lotus, fragrant flowers, and water-lilies,
कृशरैः पायसान्नैर्वा विविधैश्च विभूषणैः
With slender rice, sweet rice, or various ornaments,
सर्वपक्षफलं प्राप्य सूर्यलोकं ततो व्रजेत्
Having obtained the fruit of all lunar phases, one then goes to the world of the Sun.
यथाक्रमं प्रयत्नेन नामानि परिकीर्तयेत्
One should recite the names with effort, in proper order.
वैशाखे त्वथ ज्येष्ठे तु आषाढे श्रावणे तथा
In Vaiśākha, then in Jyeṣṭha, Āṣāḍha, and also Śrāvaṇa,
मार्गशीर्षे तथा पौषे पूजयेत्सततं रविम्
In Mārgaśīrṣa and also Pauṣa, one should always worship the Sun.
विकर्तनं पतंगं च सहस्रांशुं खगाधिप
Vikartana, Pataṅga, Sahasrāṃśu, and Lord of Birds.
पूजयेद्देवदेवेशं देवानामपि दुर्लभम्
One should worship the Lord of gods, who is difficult even for the gods to attain.
इत्येवं ते समाख्यातं मया गुह्यमिदं खग
Thus, O bird, this secret has been related to you by me.
न च पापकृते वीर दातव्यं विनतात्मज
O heroic son of Vinatā, it must not be given to one who has committed evil.
दत्त्वा स्वर्गमवाप्नोति श्रुत्वा च विधिवत्खग
By giving, one attains heaven; by hearing properly, O bird, as well.